ROME – More than 200 children and young adults participated in an inaugural event for the first international-style trapshooting bunker in Wisconsin.

American-style trapshooting takes place using a hut that sits partially above ground and has a single machine inside that shoots a clay disc, known as a pigeon, into the air, said Perry Hintz, state adviser for the Scholastic Clay Target Program. International-style trapshooting uses a bunker that is completely below ground and holds 15 machines.

The bunker can handle five shooting stations, and the pigeon can come from any of three machines, Hintz said. In the American-style trapshooting, the pigeon come from the same place each time. The international-style pigeon also travels faster than its American-style counterpart. The pigeons coming from the bunkers go between 63 and 68 mph, while the ones from the trap houses go about 45 mph.

Thirty-six competitors took part this weekend in the 2013 USA Shooting Wisconsin Junior Olympics State Championship on the new bunker-style stations at the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association Shooting Complex and Learning Center in the town of Rome, said Amanda Wondrash, Scholarship Clay Target Program event organizer.

The top three winners this weekend will automatically get a spot at the national event. All participants will have a chance to get one of the remaining 150 spots at the national tournament, which determines the members of the U.S. junior team for international competition.

Luke Heinzen, 16, of Janesville was one of the participants in the international-style competition. The bunker-style trapshooting is more challenging than the American style of the sport, Luke said.

Luke recently went to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to practice on an international-style facility. Having one at the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association state facility in Rome is nice and makes it easier to get experience in the international style, which is used in Olympic competitions.

The Wisconsin Trapshooting Association got grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the National Rifle Association to build the bunker, said Dennis Talyor, association member. Previously, trapshooters had to go to Ohio for the nearest bunker-style facility.

This weekend’s event for young shooters to participate both in the international-style event and a 100 Bird Trapshoot that was happening simultaneously is a wonderful opportunity for children, said Scott Gunderson, DNR assistant deputy secretary.

“I think it’s awesome,” Gunderson said.

The sport of trapshooting gives children from a wide range of interests and backgrounds, who might never have met, a chance to be friends, Gunderson said. In trapshooting, the football players and less athletic children are able to compete on even ground, Gunderson said.

Rylie Johnson, 13, came from Illinois with her mother, Erin, to participate in the 100 Bird competition. She likes shooting because it’s something different to do. She also likes the surprise people have when they learn she likes to shoot.

The DNR administration was proud to be a part of bringing the first international-style bunker to Wisconsin, Gunderson said.

Chris Luchini of New Mexico has been traveling to every international-style competition possible in the country to get his daughter, Kes, 15, more competition experience. Kes is a top shot but tends to get competition nerves, Chris Luchini said.

The Rome facility is one of only about 30 in the United States that has an international-style bunker open to the public, Chris Luchini said. It’s a wonderful facility and will bring people from all over the country when it’s finished, Luchini said.

You can contact reporter Karen Madden at 715-423-7200, ext. 6729, or follow her on Twitter: @wrtkmadden